 Maria Butina |  |
Trump is sinking into more trouble as more investigations open and swirl around him. But it is not simply the number of investigations that involve Trump. It is what we are learning about how the corruption surrounding Trump works.
One investigation involves Maria Butina, the Russian agent who was using the some of the leaders of the National Rifle Association to infiltrate the Republican Party. Today Butina pleaded guilty in Washington, D.C.’s Prettyman Courthouse to conspiring to act as a foreign agent. Butina agreed to cooperate federal investigators and presumably, get out of jail where she has been held in solitary for the last five months.
The interest in this case stems from two considerations. First, it shows how Russian espionage efforts to infiltrate the U.S. work. Butina spent money to make friends. Moreover, the target was the conservative movements rather than the left-wing like the Communist Party of the thirties. Second, it may shed light on where the NRA obtained the $30 million it contributed to Trump’s campaign efforts.
Another question is why the Russians were willing to have Butina take a plea deal and burn her network of contacts in the NRA. Of course, the recent and unexpected turnover in NRA leadership may have rendered those contacts useless anyway.
One investigation involves Maria Butina, the Russian agent who was using the some of the leaders of the National Rifle Association to infiltrate the Republican Party. Today Butina pleaded guilty in Washington, D.C.’s Prettyman Courthouse to conspiring to act as a foreign agent. Butina agreed to cooperate federal investigators and presumably, get out of jail where she has been held in solitary for the last five months.
The interest in this case stems from two considerations. First, it shows how Russian espionage efforts to infiltrate the U.S. work. Butina spent money to make friends. Moreover, the target was the conservative movements rather than the left-wing like the Communist Party of the thirties. Second, it may shed light on where the NRA obtained the $30 million it contributed to Trump’s campaign efforts.
Another question is why the Russians were willing to have Butina take a plea deal and burn her network of contacts in the NRA. Of course, the recent and unexpected turnover in NRA leadership may have rendered those contacts useless anyway.
https://nyti.ms/2LddZj6
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